Chancellor Masrour Barzani receives Norwegian Embassy delegation

Chancellor Masrour Barzani received today a Norwegian delegation led by Minister Counsellor Carsten Carlsen to discuss political and military developments following the independence referendum in Kurdistan.

During the meeting both officials emphasized a shared interest for Erbil and Baghdad to negotiate in good faith. Chancellor Barzani said, ‘This is a binding referendum, and the international community must honor the legitimate aspirations of the people of Kurdistan.’

‘Collective punishment cannot reverse what the people of Kurdistan have already determined; the alternative is dialogue and a common recognition of our shared interests,’ he added.

Chancellor Barzani called on the international community to sponsor dialogue with Baghdad. The Norwegian delegates stressed the importance of dialogue between Erbil and Baghdad to de-escalate tensions and settle differences through peaceful means.

A few words about us

The Kurdistan Region Security Council oversees the intelligence and security community in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq and, as of August 2014, coordinates Global Coalition airstrikes against ISIL positions. Its elite CTU forces from the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) conduct joint operations with coalition forces in a campaign targeting senior ISIL members.